It seems the article on investing in relationship has left a mark or two. I've been checking my mail with your comments and stories related to the subject. I did not plan to put those up here, but certain words, thoughts or actions may change your mind over matters. The following lines will carry a comment I got: "Investing in relationships is very important, as long as you try to be clear about your personal values. It is only when you are not firm about your stand or your own values that conflicts begin. "When it comes to healthy relationships, trust, respect and open communication are a few important things to consider to ensure you are always on the right side of the line."The reason this is important is because when you have a healthy relationship-life, the rest of your life improves too. You are happier, easier to work with. More satisfied with life. More stable in your sense of self. Able to find balance. People start to notice the difference. "Opportunities arise. Sherif, you've never bragged about yourself and your achievements all the time. You've listened to what the other person has to say. This is your way of showing respect and courtesy and building real connections with real people. I always look forward to read your weekly column." Signed Brigitte from Australia. And I thought Down Under was a long way from here, but that's hi-tech for you. It is great sharing these thoughts with the readers of this corner. But it feels greater that the issue is still something of interest and value to many. No one will ever deny the "benefit" of relationships and its impact on the business. But this author was not really concerned about the benefit, as much as the “value” of relationships in the business. You may gain something, many things from your business contact, true true true. But you may gain a lot more on the long run in terms of self-fulfillment, satisfaction and certainly better night sleep! That is when I got impressed by that mail. I still see the business world as a big portion of life. In the absence of "practicing" the values of life and the joy of living in the work place, one might be losing a great deal without realising it until it's too late, when "you're older, shorter of breath, and one day closer to death" (Pink Floyd sang those lyrics in the 1970's and the words sound like they were written yesterday!) In Stephen Covey's expression of relationships as an "Emotional Bank Account", he refers to deposits that you need to put in your emotional account, so you can withdraw a bit of that when you need help. In a more romantic mood (Ed: in business? Self: Yes, in business) I would like to paint a picture of a happy relaxed human being returning home, and going to the office the next day with the same level of excitement and sense of achievement. In many seminars I conduct, I break the ice with a bit of talk about what people like outside the business world. I often get participants' confusion over that area, bored look, limited reactions or worse: nothing at all. When (or if) I mention my love of travel, reading, or meeting new people….it almost always reflects on business and pleasure. Yes, we can mix business and pleasure, because we actually do! This issue has been settled long time ago, case closed. We are not going to sit down and debate that today. We do spend a whole bunch of hours with our business associates eight hours a day (give and take…possibly give), five days a week (give and take…certainly give!). You would expect to build relations, have common interests, share a joke, talk about last night's game, that movie or that actress! We are all there….humans. Check the section you're reading this article in, it's BUSINESS, not social or gossip column. Need other proofs? The ice-breakers that I recommend at the opening of any meeting, seminar, workshop or training, the group/team outings, the Ramadan Iftar (a fast-breaking meal in the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan) organised and sponsored by your company, the entire establishment called Human Resources in every company. All the fingers are pointing at relationships and their improvement. Not just for goodwill's sake, but for business results and achievements, or even over achievements. Final words: If you are going to shake a hand, make sure you shake the person behind that hand…
